The Legends in the Archives newsletter shares genealogical stories about your favorite people. Like Michael Scott, Regional Manger of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company Inc, Scranton Branch.
Records freeze time. They give us a snapshot of our ancestors’ lives. For instance, the 1920 census shows 18-year-old Walt Disney’s occupation as, “Artist, Cartoon.” Imagine that? An 18-year-old kid, living in Kansas City, drawing cartoons and experimenting with film. That kid, Walt, would go on to become a millionaire and win 22 Oscars. But on that January day in 1920 when the census taker knocked on the Disney’s door, nobody had a clue.
Every week, I pick a celebrity or historical figure that inspires or fascinates me. There are so many positive stories to tell that will bring you closer to historical legends! Did you know that basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain’s parents were shorter than 5’10″? He was 7’1″.
You can even get a snapshot of Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood in Atlanta, Georgia in the census. When MLK was 11, his parents both worked at the church. His father was a pastor and his mother the pianist and director of music. Imagine how influential that environment was for MLK, somebody who later delivered one of the most prolific speeches in history.
Every year, more high school yearbooks get digitized. We could stumble across a few current stars in Ancestry’s databases.
This weekly newsletter will be a fun way to dive into the history of some of my favorite figures. And what better thing to do than share it with anybody who wants to join the journey? Come along! Subscribe and get the Legends in the Archives newsletter every Friday morning.
Jack Palmer has done genealogy research since he was ten years old and loves writing about it for family, friends, and anybody else who might enjoy research stories and advice. He graduated from Duke University in May 2023, majoring in History and Psychology, and is the author of Helen & Frank: A Biography, a biography about his great-grandparents.
